Automatic sprinkler system.



No. 864393. PAIENTED AUG. 27, 1907.- E. L. THOMPSAON. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM;

.APPLIOATION FILBD PEB. '15, 1902.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

FIGJ.

WITNEEEES: i INVENTUH No864,393-. PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907.

B. L. THOMPSON.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM. APPLIOATION I'ILED rm. 15, 1902.

2 SHBETS-SHBET 2. 4'

WITNEEEEE INVENTDR E %WM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVERETT L. THOMPSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO MANUFAOTURERS AUTOMATIG SPRINKLER GO., OF SYRAOUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

No. :364,393. A

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2 7, 1907.

Application filed February 15,1902. Serial No. 94,166.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, Evnnnrr L. THOMPSON; a citizen of the United States, and a resident oi Bensonhurst, I

borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, city of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sprinkler Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic sprinkl er apparatus for extinguishing fires, and more particularly to that class known as the dry pipe system, and the invention is directed to improving various portions. of the apparatus.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiicient apparatus of the character specifiedand one which is more reliable in operation and less liable to become deranged or broken, or to be accidentally released than like apparatus heretofore employed.

To the above ends my invention consists in the construction, arrangenents and combinations of parts to be hereinater described and claimed.-

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the various views :--Figure 1 is a front elevation with parts broken away of a portion of an automatic sprinkler system and dry valve enbodying my invention, the View showing the system installed. Fig. 2 is an end view, partly, in section, of valve chambers and controlling devices; which are shown in the set position, the view corresponding substantially to a vertical sectional View taken on the line x a: of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrow in said figure. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of the same which corresponds substantially to a section taken on the line y y of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrow in said figure. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional View of the alarm mechanism, the View being taken on the line z z of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow in said figure; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspecti've view of a portion of the valve controlling devices.

Referrng particularly to Fig. l of the drawings, 1 indicates the stories of a building and to the ceiling on each story are the sprinkler distributing pipes 2 which are provided at intervals with suitable thermostatic nozzles 3 that are ordinarily closed and which are automatically opened in the usual manner by the melting of the fusible plugs which maintain them closed. The various sprinkler pipes are connected to a stand pipe 4 which terninates at its lower end at a socalled air-chamber 5. Contained within the air chamber 5 is a valve 6 which is pivoted at 7 to a link 8, the link in turn being pivoted at 9 within the air chamber. lt will be observed that the link 8 extends to opposite sides oi the pivot 9 so that the valve has but a slight which likewise works in a suitable guide.

play With relation to the link to which it is connected. The valve 6 is adapted to a seat 10 and when the valve is closed the air chanber is separated from the so-called water chamber ll in which is contained a valve 12 that is adapted to be seated on a valveseat 13 to close off the water chamber from the main supply pipe 14 which may be provided with a valve 15 that is adapted to cut the water off from the entire system. The valve 12 may be united by a ball and socket joint 16 to a stern 17 which is provided with a frusto-conical valve portion 18 and which extends through a tapering open ing 19 that con-esponds to the contour of the valve portion 18 and is adapted to be closed thereby. i

A bar 20 is provided with a set screw 21 which is adapted to bear upon the free end of the stem 17 when the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. l and to maintain the valve 12 upon its seat. The upper end ot the bar 20 is adapted to bear uponan abutnent 22 formed on a fixed bracket 23 which extends from the head of the water chamber 11. The lower end of the bar coperates with a yoke 24 which has one end there of extended into a bifurcated portion 25 of a weighted lever 26 that is pivoted at 27 to a bracket that extends from the water chamber. The weighted lever- 26 is loosely linked to a weighted arm 28 that has one end bifurcated at'28 and which is provided with a pin 29 that extends across the bifurcation so that the arin may be supported by its pin 29 on the nose 30 of a lever 31-, which is supported upon a kniie edge iulc'um 32 that is preierably made of non-Corrosive metal. The lever may be guided in its movement by guide arms 33 and*` 34 which are likewise preierably made of non-Corrosive metal. Near the inner end of the lever is a downwardly extending lug 35 which, under certain conditions, is adapted to coperate with a lug 36 that extends up- Wardly from the upper face of the bracket 23 for purposes which will hereinater appear. The inner end of the lever 31 is adapted to bear upon the lower side of a lever 37 which may be apertured for the reception of a fixed pin 38 having a T-shaped head and'bearing arms 39. The upper face of the lever 37 may be provided with a longitudinal groove or recess 40 and in which the lower end of valve stern 41 is adapted to bear. A valve 42 is connected to the valve stem 41 and is guided thereby in a bear-ing 43, as well as by the stem 44 The valve 42 coperates with a valve seat 45 which is contained within an air cup 46 and has a circumierential groove 47 surrounding it and extending below the face of the valve seat so that any foreign matter such as sediment, rust, scales or grt which may accidentally be conveyed to the air cup, cannot rest upon the valve seat and de-. stroy it or the face of the valve but will be caught in the groove 47 and may ultimately 'find its way to the outlet of said groove where it joins the anti-water column or pipe 48. This pipe 48 extends from a point at or near the top of the standpipe 4 with which it communicates, and extends at its lower end to a pointbelow the aii' cup' 46 where it is provided with a globe valve 49, which with that portion of the pipe that extends below the lateral openingO to the air cup 46, constitutes a pocket for the reception of sedinent, grit, mud or scales and which when the valve 49 is opened may be carried off through the pipe 51. It will be observed that the opening 50 from the anti-water column extends from a point below the bottom ot' the air cup and communicates therewith at its lowest portion and with the groove 47 therein, as before pointed out. By these means it is almost impossible ior foreign matters, which might be conveyed through the anti-water column, to gain access to the air cup, but even ii they should, they could not injure the valve or the valve seat and would be caught within the groove 47 and would eventually pass to the pocket in the lower portion oi pipe 48, whence they could be discharged through the pipe 51 when the valve 49 is opened. The lower side of the air cup is provided with openings 52 which are closed or covered by the valve 42 whereas the upper portion of the air cup communicates by a pipe 53 with a pressure gage 54, by means of which the amount of air pressure in the entire system may be ascertained.

Secured byheaded screws 55 or otherwise to the water chamber or other suitable portion oi the structure is a protecting housing which in the present instance comprises two members 57-57, which are united by hinges 58 at their outer edges, whe'eas they are each shaped at 59 to conform to the bulging portion of the structure to which they are secured by the screws 55. This housing when closed incloses the valve releasing in'- strunentalities and pre'vents them from being knocked against and accidentally operated. The housing also prevents the placement oi packing cases or other obstructions in such a position adjacent to the valve releasing devices that the latter will fail to operate when a fire takes place and the nozzles in the distributing pipes 2 are opened.

Upon reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the relation of the protecting housing to the valve releasing mechanism is such that the latter may operate when the housing is closed and yet the housing affords ample protection against an accidental actuation of the device, and assures the proper actuation thereof at the proper time by preventing obstructions from being placed in the path thereof. When it is desired to set the valve releasing devices, the screws 55 at one side of the housing may be removed and that mem ber of the housing turned on its hinges to the position represented at Fig. 3, when the parts are exposed and may be properly set.

Secured to the lower portion of the water chamber 11 is a housing 60 which is shown in detail in Fig. 4. This housing contains two chambers 61 and 62 which are divided by a partition 63 and are closed by a bottom plate 64 that may be secured in place by suitable screws, with a sheet of rubber 65 interposed between the face oi the bottom plate and the housing to make a tight joint and to prevent the sweat or moisture which might accumulate on the outside of the water chamber from gaining access to the interor of the housing 60. One wall of the housing and its partition are per- &34,393

forated for the reception of insulating fianged collars or bushings 66 through which a bolt 67 slides. This bolt' is provided with a head 68 and a cross pin 69 which latter contacts with one of the bushings 66 and i limits the outward movement of the bolt and constitutes a bearing for one end of a coiled spring 70, the other end of the spring bearing on a bushing 66 and maintaining the bolt normally in the projected position. The inner end of the bolt extends through the partition 63 and into the chamber 62 and has a tapering end 71 which is adapted to be forced between two spring contacts 72 and 73. These spring contacts are secured to an insulating block 74 by binding posts 75 and 76 respectively, and to which the wires 77 and 78 respectively are connected. These wires lead to a suitable battery and alarm mechanism 79 and the relation of the bolt 67 (which is in iact a circuit closer) to the weighted lever 26, is such that when the valve releasing devices are released as shown in Fig. 3, said lever will drop against the head oi the bolt, thus forcing it against the tension of its spring and between the spring contacts 72 and 73 and the electric current will flow from one contact to the other through the bolt 67 and the alarm will be sounded, thus notifying every one within the building of the fire which has effected an automatic operation of the sprinkler.

The operation of the system is as follows: Water having been cut off from the entire system by the valve 15, the valve controlling devices are set in' the position shown in Fig. 1 and the various nozzles 3 having been closed by their iusible plugs, air will be pumped into the entire system above the valve 6, by any suitable pump, until a pressure of say ten pounds is registered on the pressure gage 54. This pressure will maintain the valve 42 on its seat, thereby causing the stem`41 of the valve to support the various parts of the releasing mechanism in the operative position with' the valve 12 on its seat. The valve 15 may' then be opened and the ten pound air pressure in' the system will through the releasing mechanism, withstand a one hundred pound water pressure on the valve 12. Should a fire occur one or more of the iusible plugs will Joe melted out, thus opening the associated nozzles 3 and the compressed air within the system will escape. The air pressure being thus lowered will' no longer press the valve 42 on its seat and the weighted levers 26 and 28 will raise it through the intermediate levers, thus permitting the outer end of the lever 31 to be depressed and the weighted levers 26 and 28 will' be allowed to drop to the position shown in Fg. 3. The bar 20 dropping with the weighted levers will no longer press, through its set screw, on the valve stern 17 and the pressure of the water on the valve 12' will force it open, at the same time closing the valve opening 19 through which the stem 17 works. The water flowing into the water chamber 11 raises the valve 6 in the air chamber and fiows up into the main or stand pipe 4 through the distributing pipes 2 and out the nozzles 3, which were opened at the point where the fire occurred, and the alarm will the same timebe sent in by the weighted lever 26 forcing the boltbe tween the Contacts 72 and 73. It will be understood that if through any oversight or carelessness the valve :15 has been closed beore the fire occurs, the valve releasing mechanism will nevertheless beactuated and that it w-ill result in the alarm' being sent in notwith 'standing no water fiows through the system, because the actuation of the alarm is controlled by the valve releasing me chanism and its actuation is entirely independent of the flow oi' water, but takes place when the air pressure on the valve 12 is reduced or removed.

In resetting the apparatus after a fire has occurred, it is essential that every portion of the system beyond the valve 12 be drained thoroughly and if this be not done, it is liable to result in the valve 12 not opening when a fire occurs, as will be hereinafter explained. l have provided a cock 80 at the lowermost portion of the water chamber ll in order that any water which may leak through the valve 12 may be removed from time to time and this portion of the system be thoroughly drained.

The anti-water pipe 48, as before explained, is connected to the highest portion of the system or to the top of the stand pipe 4, and thus fills with water when the system is filled, and i the water should be allowed to remain in the pipe..48 the weight of the water 'on the valve 42 might prevent its operation. Thus for instance, if a column of water, say twenty feet high, be allowed to remain in the anti-water pipe `48, it will eXert a pressure of ten pounds to the square inch on the valve 42 and in the event of a fire the air pressure would be released as before but the ten pound water pressure on the valve 42 would prevent an actuation of the releasing mechanism and the water would not be turned on, nor would the alarm be sent in. It will thereiore be seen that it is absolutely essential that this anti-water pipe be iree from water. As before explained, water may be discharged from this pipe -through the valve 49 and in addition to this a test cock 81 is provided near the bottom oi the pipe, and by means of which one can readily determine at any time whether or not water is contained in the pipe.

In addition to the above, I have provided means which positively prevent the setting of the valve releasing mechanism without first draining the antiwatcr column or pipe 48. Thus it will be seen that the Construction and arrangement of the various levers and the studs or projections 35 and 36 hereinbeiore described are such that the parts cannot be set in the.

operative position without first raising the valve stem 41, thereby unseating the valve -42, when the water contained in the air cup 46 and the pipe 48 will flow out through the openings 52 in the air cup.

What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. in an automatic sprinkler system, the combination with distributing pipes, a water supply pipe, a valve which centi-ols the flow of water from said supply pipe to the distrihuting pipes, means for holding said valve to its seat, means for automatically releasing said holding means and valve when a fire takes place, and alarm mechanism which is controlled independently of the flow of water and which is set in operation when the valve holding means and releasing mechanism is operated.

:2. in an automatic sprinkler system, the combination with distributing pipes, a water supply pipe, a valve which controls the flow of water from said supply pipe to the distributing pipes, means for holding; said valve to its seat, means for automatically releasing said holding means and valve when a lire takes place,'and alarm nechanism which is controlled by the valve holding and releasing mechanism and is set in operation when said mechanisn releases the valve.

3. In a dry pipe automatic sprinkler system, the combination with distributing pipes, a Water supply pipe, a valve which controls the flow of water from said supply pipe to the distributing pipes, means for holding said valve on its seat and valve rcleasing means which are controlled by air pressure in the system and which includes weighted levers, and an electric circuit closer which is operated by said weighted levers to send in an alarm when the levers are released.

4. in an automatic sprinkler system, the comhination of a water release valve, automatic valve releasing nech anism therefor, an air pressure pipe which eommunicates with said valve releasing mcchanism, and means which prevent the setting of said valve releasing mechanism without first drainin, said air pressure pipe.

5. in an automatic sprinkler system, the combination of distributing pipes, a water release valve which controls the flow of water to said distributing pipes, automatic valve holding and releasing mechanism for said valve, an air pressure pipe which conmuncates with said valve holding and releasing mechanism and with the distributing pipes, and means which prevent the setting of said valve holding and releasing mechanism without first draining said air pressure pipe.

6. In an automatic sprinkler system, the combination of a water release valve, a system of levers which maintains said valve on` its seat, a valve which controls the release of said levers, and means for preventing the setting of said levers without first opening said controlling valve.

7. In an automatic sprinkler system, the combination of water distributing pipes, a water release valve, a system of levers which maintains said valve on its seat, a eontrolling valve which is maintained seated by air pres sure and which Controls the release of said levers, and means for preventing the setting of said levers without first moving said controlling valve from its seat and permitting any Water which tends to seat it to escape.

8. in an automatic sprinkler system, the comhination of a water release valve, a system of levers which maintains said valve on its seat, a valve which Controls the release ot' said levers, an ahutment, and means coperating therewith to prevent the setting of said levers without first opening said controlling valve and permitting any water which tends to seat it to escape.

9. In an automatic sprinkler system, the combination of a main or stand pipe, a valve which controls the flow of Water thei-eto, distributing pipes which connect with said stand pipe, a system of levers which coperate with said valve to maintain it seated, -an anti-water column which is in communication with said dstributing pipes, a controlling valve which is maintained seated by air pressure in the distributing pipes and anti-water column and which maintains the levers in the set position, and means for preventing said levers from being set without first unseatin'g the controlling valve and permitting the water in the anti-water column to escape.

10. In an automatic sprinkler system, the combination of a main or stand pipe, a valve which controls the flow ot` water thereto, distributing pipes which connect with said stand pipe, thermostatic uozzles in said distributing pipes, a system of levers which copcrate with said valve to maintain it seatcd, an anti-water column which is in communication with said distributing pipes, an air cup in communicationwith said anti-watercolunn, a controlling valve within said air cup and which is maintained seated by air pressure in the distributing pipes and antiwater column and which maintains the levers in the set position, and means for preventing said levers from being set without first unseating the controlling valve and permitting the water in the anti-wator column to escape.

11. In an automatic sprinkler system, the combination of a water releasing valve, a system of levers for automatically releasing said valve when a fire takes place and a removable sectional protecting housing for preventing said levers from being accidentally released or from being blocked by ohstructions when housing is in place, said housing being open at top and bottom and the sections of which are united by hinges, wherehy access may be had to the levers when desired.

12. In an automatic u sprinkler system, the comhinatio of a water releasing valve, a systemof` levers for automatically releasing said valve when a fire takes place, and a two-part protecting housing which surrounds said levers and open at the top and bottom thereof and the parts of which areunited by hinges and are adapted to be secu-ed in place to prevent the` levers from being accidentally released or blocked by obstructions and whereby one part of said housing may be readily opened on the other to expose the levers.

13. In a dry pipe automatic sprinkler system, the combination with distributing pipes, a water supply pipe, a valve which controls the ilow of water from said supply pipe to the distributing pipes, valve releasing means which are controlled by alr pressure in the System and which in cludes weightcd levers and an electric circuit closer which is operated by said weighted'levers to send in an alarm when the levers are released, and means which prevent said levers from being set without first draining a part of the system.

14. In an automatic sprinkler system, the eombination of a main or stand pipe, a valve' which controls the flow of water thei-eto, distributing 'pipes which connect with said stand pipe, thermostatic nozzles in said distributing plpes, a system of levers which coperate with said valve to maintain it seated, an air cup, an anti-water column which is in communication with said distributing pipes and has open communication with said air cup at the bottom thereof and which extends below said air cup, a controlling valve within said'air cup and which is maintained seatcd by air pressure in the distributing pipes and &64,393

antiwvater column and which maintains the levers in the set position, and means for preventing said levers from being set Without first unseating the controlling-valve and permitting the vater in the' anti-water column to,

escape.

15. In an automatic sprinkler system, the combination of a main or stand pipe, a valve which Controls the flowof water thereto, distributing *pipes which connect with said stand pipe, thermostatic nozzles in saiddistributing pipes a system of levers which coperates with said' levers from being set without first unseating. the controllingvalve andpermitting. the water n 'the anti-water column to escape.

Signed at borough of Manhattan, city* of New York, in

the 'county of New York, -and Stateof New York, this 14thday of February, A.. D. 1902.

` EVERETT L. THOMPSON.

Witnesses K. V. DONOVAN, E. M. WELLS. 

